Railway-car axle and method of making the same



May 11 1926. W. P. WITHEROW RAILWAY CAR AXLE AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed Jan. 20, 1922 Patented May 11, 1926.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM I. WITHEROW, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T WITI-IE- ROW STEEL COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY-CAR AXLE AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME.

Application filed January 20, 1922. Serial No. 530,639.

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing one of the car axle blanks as rolled, with part of another, the'whole being part of the entire rolled length;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing portions of adjacent blanks directly connected; and

Figures 3 to 8, inclusive are sectional views on the corresponding section lines of Figure 1.

At the present time, it is customary to produce railway car axles individually by forging or turning. Attempts have been made to produce axles of this nature by rolling, and particularly by axial rolling, but the results have been entirely unsatisfactory. I have found that car axles may be satisfactorily rolled by utilizing die rolls operating on a suitably shaped leader in a single pass and adapted to form an integrally connected series of blanks from each of which blanks a car axle may be formed when Y sheared into separate blanks.

In accordance with the present invention,

there may be produced in any desired manner a leader or shape, preferably having a uniform cross sectional area throughout its length, and preferably of elliptical or circular cross section, although other cross sec- 80 tional shapes may be utilized. In all cases, however, the greatest cross sectional area of the leader is preferably slightly greater than the greatest cross sectional area of a com pleted blank.

In Figure 1, a completeblank is shown, comprising intermediate, spaced, enlarged portions 2 of maximum diameter. Intermediate these portionsthe body of the blank is reversely tapered to a minimum cross sectional area 3. Beyond the portions 2 there are formed cylindrical bearing portions 4 and reduced collars 5. The extremities 6 of the blanks are of such shape as to cooperate with journal boxes as commonly used. Provision is made during the die rolling operation for the formation of a flash 7 on the blanks, the flash being formed on the portions which are reduced to the greatest ex tent, and on diametrically opposite sides of the blanks. In this figure, I have disclosed the ends of adjacent blanks as connected by a gating 8. Such a ating, where provided, clearly indicates e point of separation of adjacent being adapted to be separated, as for example by shearing, on the line w'-a.

The connected series of blanks as pro duced by the die rolling operation are cut into sections, as indicated, and the flash is trimmed away. Thereafter, the individual axles or axle blanks may be machined or .finished if desired. Where rolled to finished dimensions, it will be obvious that the finished axles have a hard outer skin produced by rolling.

It will be obvious that the particular dimensions of the axles are immaterial, these dimensions being varied in accordance with the requirements of the Master Car Builders Association.

The advantages of the invention arise from the provision of an inexpensive method of rapidly producing car axles all of which are of uniform cross sectional dimensions, weight and length.

I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, adie rolled car axle blank of substantially final overall dimensions having a flash throughout the major portion of its length, said blank having a bearing portion adjacent each end, a reduced collar beyond each bearing portion and a reduced end beyond each collar for cooperation with a journal box.

2. As an article of manufacture, a die rolled car axle blank of substantially final overall dimensions having the fibre in the inner and outer portions thereof extending longitudinally, and having a flash throughout the major portion of its length, substantially as described.

3. In the method of rolling car axles, -the steps consisting in forming' a leader having a major and minor axis with the major axis at least as reat as the greatest cross section of a finis ed car axle, and then die rolling the leader in a single pass while *making provision for flash to produce a connected series of car axle blanks each of substantially final overall dimensions and each having a flash along a major portion thereof, substantially as described.

'4. In the method of rolling car axles, the steps consisting informing a leader having a major and a minor axis and having a cross sectional area at least as great as the greatest cross sectional area of a completed axle, and then die rolling the leader in a single pass to produce a car axle blank of substantially final overallvdimensions hav ing a flash throughout the major portion of the length, substantially as described.

5. In the method of die rolling car axles, the steps cons sting in forming a suitable leader-having a major and minor axis, then die rolling the leader in a single pass to produce a connected series of car axle blanks of substant ally final overall dimensions making provision during the die rollingfor the formation of flash on diametrically opposite sides of the blanks and extending throughout the major portion of the length thereof, and then separat ng tlu blanks and removing the flash, substantially as described.

6. In the method of rolling car axles, the steps consisting in forming a suitable leader having a cross sectional area at least as great as the greatest cross sectional area of a completed axle, die rolling the leader in a single pass to produce a connected series of car axle blanks each of substantially final overall dimensions and each having a flash throughout the major portion of the length thereof, then separating the blanks for trimming away the flash, substantially as described.

7. As an article of manufacture, a die rolled car axle blank having a central body portion with wheel seating portions and journal portions at the ends thereof, tln blank being of substantially final overall dimensions and having flash along substantially the entire length of the body portion and having separate flash along at least one of the end portions, substantially as described.

8. As an articleof manufacture, a string of die rolled car axle blanks of substantially final overall dimensions each of said blanks having body portions, the portions of the string intermediate such body portions being adapted to form wheel bearing portions and journal portions in the finished axles, the string of blanks having flash along said body portions and having separate flash along said intermediate por tions, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

IVILLIAM P. WITHEROVV. 

